lphas Second Choice novel Chapter 23

His tiny hands clung to me, his little nose pressed into the hollow of my neck, like a pup verifying a safe

scent.

I wrapped my arms around him. For the first time today, the corners of my mouth lifted for real.

“Mom, you saw lan on TV, right? lan was good?”

I tapped his nose with a smile. “Of course. lan was the best.”

The next moment, a pair of large hands lifted my little pup straight out of my arms. The same handsome face that had appeared on the mall’s giant screen now stood right in front of me.

Eric looked annoyed, but his movements were as gentle as ever.

“How old are you now? Still clinging to your mom? Do you know how heavy you are? If you tire her out, I’ll

deal with you myself.”

“Dad, liar!” lan huffed. “You always want Mom to hold you too! Shame on you!”

Watching the two of them bicker, I couldn’t stop smiling. I was about to step into the car when a fractured

voice sounded behind me.

“Lauren… who is this?”

I turned, calm. “This is my mate, Eric Chandler.”

For a heartbeat, Wesley froze like he’d been struck by lightning.

“The Alpha of the Ironclaw Pack? Everyone knows him. He only returned to the country this year… How could you possibly be married to him?”

His gaze was sharp enough to cut, disbelief distorting every muscle in his face.

It made sense. Ironclaw Pack had always been fiercely private. Eric and I had married overseas in a quiet ceremony, only close allies knew. It wasn’t strange Wesley didn’t.

Eric freed one hand and gently laced his fingers through mine, his fingertips hooking with deliberate ease, an unmistakable Alpha’s territorial gesture.

“So you must be Alpha Wesley… and Luna Kayla?” Eric said pleasantly.

A polite smile touched his lips. “My wife speaks of you two often.”

The tone was warm, but the underlying sarcasm hit with precision.

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Wesley’s face drained of color. His eyes locked on our interlaced hands, as if the sight alone delivered a blow

straight to his chest.

Kayla’s expression hollowed out, tears drying on her face.

We got into the car and left them standing there, like two broken pillars after a storm.

Ironclaw Pack House

After putting lan to bed, Eric trailed behind me like an oversized guard dog, silent, large, loyal.

His ears tilted slightly, his steps firm, his presence heavy. It was an Alpha’s instinct of verifying his mate’s

safety.

I almost laughed. I turned, cupped his face in my palms. “What’s wrong? I only had dinner with them. Three people at one table.”

“I know,” he muttered, lifting a bag and holding it toward me. “Housekeeper found this.”

Kayla’s skincare bag. I had completely forgotten about it.

“Oh. They gave it to me, so I figured I’d pass it to the nanny.”

I raised a brow. “And I brought you a gift too.”

I held the tie up against his chest. “Looks perfect.”

Eric’s eyes brightened instantly, though he refused to admit he had been brooding over something so small.

Then he buried his face against my neck, inhaling deeply, checking for any trace of another male’s scent.

“Sweetie…” His voice was low and rough. “Let me bathe you tonight. I need to wash off every trace of that

stink.”

His fingers were already working my clothes open.

I laughed quietly, choosing not to expose him.

I thought that dinner would be the end of any contact with Wesley. But a week later, the nanny at Beverly Heights called in a panic.

“Luna… when I went to clean today, there were cigarette butts piled up at your door. The hallway smelled like smoke and liquor. I nearly fainted from it.”

“The house itself hasn’t been entered. But the old folks downstairs said they’ve heard strange noises for days… could it be a thief?”

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My brows tightened.

Chapter 6